There are many on-the-record statements from Dan Brown and his publisher . . . to the effect that they were rather pleased to be able to present "alternate" or "hidden" or "lost" historical ideas to a new audience.

The way in which the book was written leads a reader who may be ignorant of history to believe that DVC is, indeed, presenting credible historical material.

A recent survey of Canadian readers found that of those who had read DVC, a third of them believed "there are descendants of Jesus alive today and a secret society exists dedicated to keeping Jesus' bloodline a secret."

Discussion boards on the Internet show very clearly that a good proportion of people . . . either believe the most preposterous theories outright or, at the very least, believe that they certainly "could be" true, and so what?

History vs. The Code - "aims to examine the historical claims made in Dan Brown's novel and compare them to the historical evidence. Unlike many other online resources about this novel, its intention is not to simply examine some of those claims, but to provide a comprehensive analysis of all of them. Its intention is to look at these topics from a purely historical perspective, without any religious bias or orientation."

"The Da Vinci Code" --- the book and probably the film --- presents Catholics with one set of problems, and those are best dealt with by knowing the facts of our Church's faith and its history. A broader challenge is an entertainment establishment that doesn't know very much about Catholicism, doesn't like what it thinks it knows, doesn't want to learn any more, and can't leave Catholic faith, practice and imagery alone.

The film, based on the novel, dramatizes these claims and will bring them to an even broader audience. So, what's the truth?

- Has the Catholic Church really hidden the truth about the "real" Jesus and what he taught?
- Were Jesus and Mary Magdalene really married?
- Did Leonardo da Vinci really reveal these secrets through codes in his art?

Discover the truth -- the truth "The Da Vinci Code" movie won't tell you -- through the answers to 100 questions by Amy Welborn, author of the award-winning de-coding Mary Magdalene.

Recent best-sellers have popularized a historically and spiritually false view of Mary Magdalene. A saint who has been revered by the Church for centuries, Mary Magdalene's life and actions have been exploited and distorted, her historical significance marginalized by lies such as:

- Mary Magdalene was married to Jesus and bore his child
- Mary Magdalene is the "real" Holy Grail
- The Gnostic gospels tell us the truth about Jesus and Mary Magdalene that the Christian Church has suppressed
- For centuries, Mary Magdalene was demeaned by Christian tradition as nothing more than a prostitute

Learn the truth -- not the fiction -- about the extraordinary woman who was one of the earliest disciples of Jesus and a powerful witness to his death and resurrection.

Why has The Da Vinci Code sold tens of millions of copies worldwide? Is the book’s phenomenal success due to its compelling characters, thrilling plot points, or impeccable research? No. The Da Vinci Code has become an international hit because of its lurid prose and its sensationalistic—even blasphemous—claims regarding the "true" history of Christianity. In the end, it is nothing more than a thinly veiled assault on the person of Jesus Christ and His Church. Millions of people, who are not experts in history, art, theology, or archeology, are being led astray by The Da Vinci Code’s fraudulent assertions and invented history.

On May 19th, The Da Vinci Code will be released as a major motion picture. Film critics have predicted it will be one of the year’s biggest blockbusters. The Da Vinci Deception is a powerful antidote to the spiritual poison found in The DaVinci Code. This easy-to-read, question-and-answer book tackles the key errors in this devastating cultural phenomenon. It is the perfect giveaway to family, friends, parishioners, and anyone you think may be in danger of having their faith in Christ and His Church eroded by the mockery of Truth that is The Da Vinci Code.

De-Coding Da Vinci: The Facts behind the Fiction of The Da Vinci Code addresses the misrepresentation of history, religion and art in The Da Vinci Code. Did Leonardo actually build these codes into his paintings? Was the Priory of Sion a real organization? Is the Holy Grail really, as he says, Mary Magdalene's womb and now her bones, and not the Last Supper cup? Is Opus Dei really what The Da Vinci Code says it is? What was Constantine's true role in early Christianity? Was Jesus human or divine or both? Was He married to Mary Magdalene? Do secret writings not in the Bible really contain truths about Jesus, Mary Magdalene and the sacred feminine?

Complete with discussion questions and suggestions for further reading in every chapter, this is the perfect book to accurately answer questions as well as inspire further conversation. It can be used either as a personal resource to expand one's knowledge of the issues raised by The Da Vinci Code or to lead a discussion for a book club, a church group or to discuss with friends who've read the book and have questions that need to be answered.

Addresses 72 different issues raised by the bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code, including What Catholic elements make the book so popular? What does Dan Brown get wrong about Opus Dei? Where did the Bible come from? Was there a smear campaign against Mary Magdalene? -- and more.

With graduate degrees in both European history (Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville, IL) and theology (Franciscan University, Steubenville, OH), Steve Kellmeyer is admirably suited to weigh the claims made in The Da Vinci Code against the historical and theological evidence. Join him as he works page by page through the novel, highlighting the fact and the fiction!